Gary Crowton says focus is on Maryland recruiting, offense

Jeff BarkerThe Baltimore Sun

Terps first-year offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said today that he is interested in the Colorado State job "because I played there and at some point I want to be a head coach again" but that his focus is on turning Maryland's fortunes around.

"I am very happy at Maryland. I am looking forward to having a winning season in 2012," Crowton replied to me in a text message.

"I don't think there is much of a story at CSU at this point. My focus is on recruiting and finding ways to make the [Terps] offense more consistent and better," Crowton said.

Crowton is a former Colorado State quarterback and defensive back who graduated from BYU in 1983. He is a former head coach (BYU, Louisiana Tech) and a football survivor. He won a national championship as LSU's offensive coordinator, popularized a version of the wide-receiver screen as coordinator of the Chicago Bears and was instrumental in bringing longtime friend Chip Kelly to Oregon.

This season, the Terps were 2-10. Quarterbacks Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown split time running the offense, and the receiving corps had a disappointing season and was plagued by drops.

Crowton, whose three-year contract includes a guaranteed $500,000, was hired by Randy Edsall last January.